A Shrine with a Long History
Katsuragi Shrine is said to have been founded during the Tenki era (1053–1058). According to local legend, Emperor Tenji, the 39th emperor of Japan, was traveling from Awa Province toward Yamato Province when he fell from his horse and injured his eye in the Awata area. The story connects the shrine’s origins with the area’s longstanding reputation as a place of healing and prayer.
The shrine’s principal deity is Hitokotonushi no Kami, a Shinto deity associated with the power of words and the ability to bring matters to a conclusion through a single word. The deity is also revered here as a protector of eyesight, and worshippers visit to pray for relief from eye ailments and for continued eye health.
Yanagi-no-Ido: The Sacred Well
One of the shrine’s best-known features is Yanagi-no-Ido, or the Willow Well, also referred to as the sacred water well. According to tradition, Hitokotonushi no Kami once suffered from an eye ailment and recovered after washing the eyes with water from this well. The story became the foundation of the shrine’s reputation as a place to pray for healthy eyesight.
Visitors can find the well along the approach from the shrine gate toward the main sanctuary. Traditionally, worshippers have used its water in prayers for eye health, and some have taken water home as part of their personal devotional practices. The well remains an important symbol of the shrine’s spiritual heritage.
Annual Festival and Traditional Performances
Katsuragi Shrine holds its autumn festival every year on November 5. A highlight is the traditional yakko procession, known as neri, led by a performer dressed as a tengu wearing exceptionally tall wooden clogs. Participants also perform a dramatic ritual in which long and extra-long ceremonial spears are tossed and passed between them.
The procession is an important expression of local cultural heritage and has been designated an Intangible Cultural Property of Naruto City. For visitors interested in traditional Japanese festivals, the event offers a glimpse into customs that have been passed down through generations.
Subshrines and Sacred Objects
The shrine grounds contain several smaller shrines, including Daikoku Shrine, Kai Shrine, Jōsui Myōjin, and Kashiwade Shrine. Visitors may pay their respects at these sites as part of their visit to the main sanctuary.
The grounds also feature a Hōchō-zuka, a monument for used kitchen knives, and a Megane-zuka, a monument for eyeglasses. These memorials reflect a traditional Japanese custom of expressing gratitude for objects that have served people well and offering them a respectful farewell when they are no longer needed.
Faith and Local Legends
The legend surrounding Hitokotonushi no Kami is central to the shrine’s identity. In one account, the deity accompanied Emperor Tenji on a journey and was injured after falling from a horse near the coast of Awata. While staying in the area to recover, the deity is said to have washed the affected eye with water from a local well and regained its health.
This story helped establish Katsuragi Shrine as a place where people pray for eye health. Even today, worshippers visit the Willow Well and the main sanctuary to offer prayers, continuing a tradition that links local folklore with everyday hopes for well-being.
Access
From JR Naruto Station, take a bus and get off at the Awata-Kitanada Higashi Elementary School bus stop. The shrine is approximately a 15-minute walk from the stop. Set amid the natural scenery of northern Naruto, it can be a peaceful addition to a sightseeing itinerary focused on the region’s history and spiritual traditions.
Explore the Naruto Area
Katsuragi Shrine can be combined with a visit to other attractions around Naruto, including Naruto Park and the Naruto Strait, famous for its powerful tidal currents and whirlpools. Visitors can also sample local specialties made with Naruto Kintoki sweet potatoes, a well-known regional product.
With its sacred well, enduring legends, traditional autumn festival, and distinctive memorials, Katsuragi Shrine offers more than a conventional shrine visit. It is a place to discover the spiritual traditions and local culture of Naruto while enjoying the quieter side of Tokushima Prefecture.